What to Watch on Max This Week (May 9-16)

Of all the streaming services, Max has gone through some of the biggest changes since it launched. It took a little bit to find its footing, but in 2025 it delivers a wide selection of shows and movies from multiple networks, including HBO, Adult Swim, A24, and more. New content is constantly being added, so we’re taking this Friday to spotlight our three top picks for the week ahead, plus everything being added below.

PCMag Picks: What We’re Watching on Max This Week

The Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood (May 9)

Based on one of the most compelling true crime podcasts we’ve ever listened to, The Bakersfield 3 follows a trio of mothers united by the mysterious disappearance of their adult children. When one is found dismembered, the parents of the other two fear the worst. United by grief, they start investigating in ways the police can’t, and the tale gets more intense the deeper they dig. This is a three-episode documentary series.

Duster (May 15)

The 1970s are hot now, and new Max series Duster leans into the dark side of the Disco Decade. Set in the American Southwest, the show stars Josh Holloway (reunited with Lost co-creator JJ Abrams) as a getaway driver for a crime syndicate who gets in way over his head when the FBI’s first Black woman agent (played by Rachel Hilson) shows up in town and starts using leverage on him. Looks like pulpy fun in the sun.

• Directors: Darren Grant, Steph Green

• Cast: Josh Holloway, Camille Guaty, Sydney Elisabeth

• Genre: Thriller

• Rating: TV-MA

The Brutalist (May 16)

Winning three Academy Awards, including a Best Actor statue for lead Adrien Brody, The Brutalist was one of 2024’s most critically acclaimed movies. As architect László Tóth, he escapes Holocaust-ravaged Europe to start a new life in the United States, only to learn that the American Dream isn’t quite as simple as it seems. Emotionally devastating, visually beautiful, and uncompromising, this is a commitment to watch but well worth it.

New TV Series and Shows Coming to Max This Week

May 11
Delicious Miss Brown – Season 10
The Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood – Season 1

May 13
Betting on Paradise – Season 1
Contraband: Seized at the Border – Season 6
Dream Destination: A Surprise Trip – Season 1

May 14
Cutthroat Kitchen: Knives Out – Season 1
Mini Reni – Season 1

May 15
Duster – Season 1
Mermicorno: Starfall – Season 2
United States of Scandal with Jake Tapper – Season 2

New Movies Coming to Max This Week

May 9
Bloody Trophy (Krwawe Trofeum)
The Whale (2022)

May 12
Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)

May 16
The Brutalist (2024)

About K. Thor Jensen

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K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.

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